This is NOT how you stay on message. Lawrence Eagleburger, a McCain advisor and one of the fave five Secretaries of State he actually remembered, has gone on the record absolutely BLISTERING Sarah Palin. This is unbelievable. Below the jump for the details.
HuffPo with the story:
A former Republican Secretary of State and one of John McCain's most prominent supporters offered a stunningly frank and remarkably bleak assessment of Sarah Palin's capacity to handle the presidency should such a scenario arise.
Lawrence Eagleburger, who served as Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush and whose endorsement is often trumpeted by McCain, said on Thursday that the Alaska governor is not only unprepared to take over the job on a moment's notice but, even after some time in office, would only amount to an "adequate" commander in chief.
"And I devoutly hope that [she] would never be tested," he added for good measure -- referring both to Palin's policy dexterity and the idea of McCain not making it through his time in office.
The interview was with NPR which was apparently supposed to show off how qualified Sarah Palin is. Of course, we know that's not the case:
Eagleburger was asked if she is ready to be president. The answer did not go over as the McCain camp probably wanted.
Asked by the host whether Palin could step in during a time of crisis, Eagleburger reverted to sarcasm before leveling the harsh blow.
"It is a very good question," he said, pausing a few seconds, then adding with a chuckle: "I'm being facetious here. Look, of course not."
I cannot wait to see how the McCain camp responds to this tomorrow. Another newscycle lost. Audio at the HuffPo link.
CROSSPOSTED AT STRATEGY08.